Mining machine



Aug. 14, 1928.

-W. S. GRAY MINING MACHINE Filed Deo. C51, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 14, 1928.

w. s. GRAY MINI-NG MACHINE Filed Deo. 31, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 192s. 1,680,942

w. s. GRAY MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1924 3 'sheets-sheet 5 F59 Q I f Patented Aug. 14, 19.28.

UNITED STATES PATENT A OFFICE.

WALTER S. GRAY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS..

l. MINING MACHINE.

This invention relates to improvements in kerf cutting mining machines and more particularly to machines of the type mounted permanently upon a wheeled support. The principal object of the present invention Vis to provide a machine of the class described in which a cutter bar is pivotally supported for universal movement to cut kerfs varying in planes from the horizontal to the vertical. A further object is to provide a machine of the class above set forth -in which the cutter chain sprocket may be actuated in all permissible positions of the cutter arm by a power source which selectively controls also 'certain of the cutter arm movements and mechanism for vertical adjustment of the entire apparatus with respect to the wheeled support.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof. In these drawings: i

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine constructed in accordancewith my invention, with parts broken away and shown in longitudinal cross section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure` 1; l

Figure 3 is a longitudinal plan section 30 taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 butdrawn to a larger scale; and Figure 4 is a front view of the machine shown in Figure 1 illustrating the mannerin which the machine may be adjusted to cut a kerf either in ahorizontal `or in a vertical plane with respect to the mine floor.

k.Referring now to details of the drawings, the machine includes apbase frame 1 mounted on axles2, 2, havingsupporting wheels 3, 3. A turntable 5 provided with a central bearing 6 is mounted for rotatable movement onsaidbase and is rovided with a plurality 'of u rightstandar s 4, 4, thereon. As herein s own these standards are mounted in pairs` spaced onopposite sidesof the turntable between `which is supported a subframe 7 carrying the cutting'element of the.

machine. As shown herein the sub-frame is verticallyv adjustable with respect-to the uprights 4, 4. This adjustment is provided by means of a plurality of pinions 8, 8, Vcarried on upright arms 9, 9 of frame 7 and engaging racks 10,10 on the upright supports 4, 4. Actuating mechanism for said pmions will Ahereinafter be described.. 1 v

stub shaft 20.

The cutting element comprises a cutter arm 15 projecting forwardly of the machine and when in use being provided witha cutter chain 15a which may be of the usual construction. This cutter bar is supported for pivotal movement by means of a bracket 16 y V7 preferably near the rear end thereof as shown, and has armature shaft 26 at its forward end journaled in the bearing` member 22a. A driving pinion 28 at the forward end of shaft 26 meshes with a spur member 29 of cluster gear 30 loosely mounted` onl the The` forward member of this cluster* gear comprises a bevel gearL31 which engages the bevel gear 32 at the lower end ofvan upright 4shaft 33` journaled in a bearing 34 formed in the swinging frame 18. A longitudinal shaft 36 is carried in a simvilar bearing 37 on the upper end of framev 18 and carries on its rear end amitre gear which meshes with a similar gear 35.a on the upper end of shaft 33. A bevel gear 38 at the forward end of shaft 36 engages a bevel gear 39 on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 40. This shaft extends concentrically through lthe sleeve prtion 16 of:` the bracket 16 and has a chain sprocket 41 thereon in alignment with the cutter arm 15 yau in'Aposition to drive the cutter chain in the usual manner. y

The mechanism for swinging the c utterfy arm in a horizontal plane in either direction with respect to the mine bottom will now be described. As shownherein a longitudinal shaft 54 has bearingwin and extends through the stub sha-ft2() `andis journaled at its rear end in a fixed support 55. Operative connections fromthemotor 25 to the shaft 54 are provided through a spur pinion 50 on the shaft 26 andan idler 51 mounted on the bracket 27 which are arranged to meshat j engagement with a worm (3G.

will with spur members 52 and 53 loosely mounted on the shaft 54 and forming the inner members of a sliding and reversing clutch mechanism. Sliding clutch members 56 and 57 feathered on the shaft 5t form the outer members of this mechanism. Said clutch members are preferably interlocked in any usual manner so that only one may become engaged at a time. A worin G mounted on the forward end of shaft 51 engages a worm gear G1 at the upper end of a vertical shaft 63. A spur pinion (52 at the lower end' of said shaft meshes with spur ysegment (34 carried concentric with the sleeve member 16a.

The entire forward portion of the machine, comprising the members 16 and 18, andy the cutter arm 15, may be adjusted vertically in either direction with respect to the mine floor in any desired manner. As herein shown manual adjusting means is provided comprising a worm gear segment 65 mounted on the stub shaft and having This worm is operated by a hand wheel 66a.

The arrangement is such that the cutter chain will be operable in any permissible position vof the cutter arm when pivoted transversely of the machine in the bearings 17,y 171,or when pivoted horizontally by pivotal movement of the swinging frame 18, as just above described.

` The sub-frame 7 carrying the entire cutting mechanism is adjustable vertically' by meansl of the following mechanism:

A bevel'armature pinion 70 preferably at the rear end of the motor 9.5 engages a bevel gear' 7l mounted on the upper end of a ver- Atical shaft havingbearing through a bracket member 73 suitably attached to the motor shell. Abevel gear 74 at the lower end of said shaft meshes with a pair of oppositely 'disposed bevel gears 75 and 7G, loosely mounted on transverse shaft 77 along the rear end of the sub-frame 7, and provided ywith a reversing clutch mechanism 7 8 feath- Aered` on said shaft in the usual manner to afford a driving connection in reversing directions at will. Two pairs of mitre gears 79, 79 are arranged at the corners of the subframe 7 to provide a. driving connection with the longitudinal shafts 80, 8() along opposite sides of said sub-frame and having pinions 8, 8 keyed thereon which form vertically movable supporting connect-ions with the racks 10, l0 on the upright supports 4, f1 as already described. By means of the reversing clutch 78, it will be seen that the entire cutting mechanism and the sub-frame may be adjusted vertically in either direction under power of the motor 25.

The cutter arm may also be fed to the coal 'by pivotal movement of the turntable upon which the entire cutter mechanism and motor 25fare supported.` As shown herein, the

driving means comprises a motor 80 at the rear end of the main frame having driving connection with the turntable through a motor pinion 81, gear 82, shaft S3 worm 811,

ivorm gear 85, shaft Sti, gears 57 and 8b, shaft.

89 and gear 90, the latter named gear being meshed with a toothed periphery 01 oi' the turntable. The turntable may thus be swung in either direction and at any angle to the base frame so as to cut a l-:erf in any permissible position of the cutter arm either in a vertical or in a horizontal plane.

The machine may also be used for making a slabbing cut along a face parallel with the mine tracks by swinging the turntable so that the cutter arm projects laterally from the main frame and is locked in this` pmition while the machine is propelled along the tracks parallel to the working face, with the cutter arm maintained in a horizontal position. Y

Suitable means for propelling tbe truck may be provided as herein shown including a chain driven by sprocket Slt on one end of shaft S3 and operatively connected thereto through a sliding clutch member S37, said chain 95 being operatively connected to the rear axle through a chain sprocket DE; in the usual manner.

"lthough I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the constructiony and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the, spirit and scope thereof. lt'urthern'iore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the particular construction illustrated excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, the combination of a turntable, a sub-frame vertically adjustable withy respect thereto, a swinging frame mounted forpivotal movement on a horizontal axis at one end of said subframe, a suj'iporting member carried by said swinging frame adapted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis, a cutter chain sprocket on said support-ing member, a motor on said sub-frame, means whereby said motor may aetuate said cutter chain sprocket in all permissible positions of said swinging frame and supporting member, means whereby said motor may selectively control certain of the pivotal movements of said' swinging frame and supporting member, and other means whereby said motor may selectively control the vertical adjustment of the entire apparatus with respectto the wheeled support.

2. In a miningmachine, the combination of a turntable havingy upright supports thereon, a sub-frame vertically adjustable between said supports, a swinging frame mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis on said sub-frame, a supporting member mounted on said swinging frame for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to the axis thereof, a cutter arm rigidly carried by said supporting member, and a motor carried by said sub-frame having operativel connections with said supporting member for moving the same about its axis.

3. In a mining machine, the combination of a turntable having upri ht supports thereon, a sub-frame vertical y adjustable between said supports, a swinging frame mounted pivotally on a horizontal axis on said sub-frame, a sufpporting member carried by said swinging rame for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to the axis thereof, a cutter arm rigidly mounted on said supportingmember, a cutter chain sprocket mounted concentric with the axis of said supporting member, a motor carried by said subirame having operative connections with said supporting member for moving same about its axis, and other operative connections between said motor and said chain sprocket whereby the latter may be actuated in any permissible position of said cutter arm. Y

4. In a mining machine, the combination of a turnable having upri ht supports thereon, a sub-frame vertical y adjustable between said supports, a swinging frame mounted pivotally on a horizontal axis on said sub-frame at the forward end thereof,

' a supporting member carried by said swinging frame for pivotal movement on a vertical axis, a cutter arm rigid with said supporting member, a cutter chain sprocket mounted concentric with the axis of said supporting member, a motor carried by said sub-frame, means at one end of said motor and concentric with the axis of said swinging frame whereby the pivotal movement of said supporting member may be controlled, o erative connections adjacent the same en of and between said motor and said chain sprocket whereby the latter may be actuated in all permissible positions of said cutter arm, and other actuating means concentric with said selective control means and with the axis of said swin ing frame whereby the latter may be pivote 5. In a mining machine, the combination of a turntable having upright .supports thereon, a sub-frame vertically adjustable between said supports, a swinging frame mounted pivotally on a horizontal axis on said sub-frame at the forward end thereof, a supportin member carried by said swinging frame or pivotal movement on a vertical axis, a cutter arm rigid with said support-ing member, a cutter chain sprocket mounted concentric with the axis of said supporting member, a motor carried by said subirame, means at one end of said motor and concentric with the axis of said Swinging frame whereby the pivotal movement of said supporting member may be selectively controlled by said motor. operative connections adjacent the same end of and between said motor and said chain sprocket whereby the latter may be actuated inall permissible positions of said cutter arm,

vother actuating means concentric with said selective control means and with the axis of .said swinging" iframe whereby the latter may be pivoted, and other means whereby said motor may control the vertical adjustment of said sub-frame at the opposite end of said motor. j'

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 29th day of December, A. D. 1924.

WALTER s. GRAY. 

